It all started last week with the Prime Minister reading out the Budget for 2006, a well thought out presentation, that put the facts on the table, gave the figures and stated where we had done well and where the country needed to improve.

The budget speech revealed that the government was reaching its goals. This is not a question of virtual reality but a matter of numbers which can be verified.

The deficit for 2005, as proposed last year, is down to Lm76 million, while for next year, unless we get an adverse tsunami of some sort – this will go down further to Lm55 million. We will reach the first Maastricht criterion of a deficit at three per cent of GDP. More so where it matters, the government has declared what it expects to do and what its performance should be during the coming financial year in respect of education, finance, economics, the workforce, educational strategy, etc. One could list all the numbers once again but this would only make boring reading.

The core message is that we can perform. The country is on the right track and the Prime Minister, together with his cabinet and government, are by and large delivering.

Of course, not everything is perfect, but we are definitely getting there.

Across the floor, the leader of the opposition seemed to us to be worried, if not stupefied, by what he was hearing. He had the script in front of him. One could see him flipping frantically through the pages – trying to absorb what was being said and at the same time trying to identify some new tax being imposed. At times his colleagues were seen to approach him but to no avail. Realities were hitting him in the face.

After the sitting, Dr Sant addressed a press conference having as a back drop a large poster asking “After Budget 2006 – are you living better?” The funny thing about it was that MLP deputies Josef Cuschieri and Stefan Buontempo covered the question mark almost continuously, giving the message the exact opposite of what it was supposed to convey.

Maybe they were sending a message to their beloved leader. The truth was there – stark and hitting them in the face.

The Budget speech clearly indicated that the economy has performed, that more taxes had been collected simply because more profits had been made and that VAT received had also surpassed expectations.

Scene 2: The hype – 7.11.2005

What was to have been a lion’s roar, where many loyal supporters had expected the leader of the opposition to run riot, turned out to be a lamenting squeak.

It all started with a walk down Republic Street – a silent march which turned out to be a shouting exercise.

There then followed Dr Sant’s speech; two whole hours of massive, solid, negative criticism during which not even one constructive remark was made.

Obviously, as was expected, he said that he doubted the numbers. This did not go down well, since the numbers and statistics laid on the table are nowadays checked and verified by the EU Commission. And the Commission has given us a good performance certificate – so much for his credibility!

At one moment in time, he stopped to take in water, as he was listing what he called taxes imposed by the Nationalist governments over the last seven years.

He also tried to give the impression that the pensioners in old peoples’ homes were to be taxed an extra Lm2.4 million per year.

This declaration too turned sour. The number quoted by him was simply an item being reported under a different heading.

He just could not get his act together.

Things just did not seem to go right for him. It was a case of massive hype simply turning out to be a burst bubble.

This is becoming an annual tradition leading us into the Christmas festive season.

One other funny thing that was revealed in Dr Sant’s speech: VAT was introduced in 1998 after his political suicide act. At least that is what he said. Had he possibly forgotten that he replaced VAT with CET, a tax regime that was tantamount to a 21 per cent tax on consumption as a result of its pyramid structure? Had he possibly forgotten that his Finance Minister Lino Spiteri resigned his post precisely for this reason?

Could he have possibly forgotten that Dom Mintoff had warned him to get his act together as he was moving dangerously towards the edge?

Scene 3: Coming Square – 9.11.2005

6.30 pm sharp. The Prime Minister not only responded and rebutted the criticism of the leader of the opposition but also gave a show of courage.

He showed his faith in the capabilities of the Maltese nation and its people: you, me and the others who are prepared to roll up their sleeve and deliver.

One could see the difference between the two political leaders oozing out. Dr Gonzi passed the test with flying colours for his outward, positive look towards the future, while Dr Sant, on the other hand, is simply sniggering in the face of reality and painting a blacker than black picture.

Hearing the Prime Minister, one could not help thanking the Lord for what occurred in 1998 when, to the dismay of his supporters who had been in opposition since 1987, Dr Sant had thrown in the towel.

I am sure that at this rate, Dr Sant will not be in the fray after the next general election, unless he convinces the people that a new labour Government is a plausible alternative – the writing is appearing on the wall.

Over the next two weeks, parliament will discuss each Ministry and its performance, after which it will be back to normal administration.

This means getting things going in accordance with the proposed budget for 2006 and at the same time finding new avenues, which will make this government truly a

success story.